TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that terrorism is threatening the entire world like a “contagious disease”, insisting on a position by Tehran that a “serious” fight against terrorism is needed.

“As a contagious disease terrorism is threatening the entire world and serious and collective fight against it is needed,” Rouhani told his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari whose country is caught in a battle with Boko Haram terrorists whose brutalities have surprised Africans.

Rouhani said that Iran has experiences in fighting terrorism and is ready to offer its experiences to Nigeria.

The president also said Iran prioritizes expansion of ties with African countries.

He also expressed regret over an instrumental use of terrorism by some countries to advance their policies.

For his part, Buhari said that Nigeria attaches great importance to relations with Iran and seeks to expand ties with the country.

-----‘Regional problems solvable through dialogue’

In a separate meeting with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal in Tehran on Tuesday, Rouhani said problems in the Middle East can only be resolved politically and through dialogue.

Rouhani also said Iran and Algeria have a common position on the crises in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and North Africa.

The president also urged expansion of economic ties between Tehran and Algiers especially in energy sector after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the nuclear deal.

The Algerian prime minister said Iran has an important status in the region and is gifted with great capabilities to establish stability in the region.

NA/PA